South Florida, especially the Miami area, has become a prime destination for retirees, leading to significant growth in the senior living industry. This expansion is driven by the region’s warm climate, vibrant culture, and the increasing demand for senior care services, making the industry a key part of the local economy.
The Miami metropolitan area hosts one of the largest concentrations of seniors in the United States, fueling demand for various types of senior living options, from independent living communities to specialized memory care units. This influx of retirees has spurred extensive investments in new facilities and services, catering to the diverse needs of the aging population. The economic impact is substantial, with the industry generating jobs, driving real estate development, and supporting the local healthcare sector.
However, the rapid expansion of the senior living industry also brings challenges. One major issue is the shortage of skilled workers. As the demand for senior care grows, so does the need for trained professionals, making it difficult for some facilities to maintain adequate staffing levels. This shortage leads to increased competition for qualified employees and rising labor costs, which can strain the industry.
Another significant challenge is the need for more specialized care options, particularly for age-related conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The growing prevalence of these conditions has created a pressing demand for memory care units and specialized services, requiring substantial investment in infrastructure and staff training. Ensuring that facilities can meet these needs is critical to maintaining the quality of care in the region.
The industry’s growth also pressures providers to maintain high standards of care amidst rapid expansion. New developments must adhere to regulatory requirements and ensure a safe, supportive environment for residents, necessitating ongoing investment in staff development and facility improvements.
Miami University is playing a key role in addressing these challenges by preparing students for careers in this burgeoning sector. The university’s programs in healthcare administration, gerontology, and social work are directly relevant to the senior living industry. Through partnerships with local facilities and practical training opportunities, Miami University is equipping students with the skills needed to succeed in this dynamic field.
The senior living industry in South Florida is booming, driven by the growing retiree population and the demand for quality care. While this growth offers significant economic benefits, it also presents challenges that require careful management, particularly in workforce development and specialized care provision. As the industry continues to evolve, collaboration between local communities, educational institutions, and industry leaders will be essential to sustaining high standards of care in the region.
Keeping up with trends is essential in today’s fast-paced business world. But how do you know what is next for your company? This is where an increasing popular concept in business management can help: predictive analytics and financial forecasting with outsourced CFO services.
The days of financial planning with some educated guesswork are over! Now, with sophisticated tools of financial modelling and data analysis, businesses can have deep insights into what the future holds in terms of trends they will see around them and make decisions accordingly. And this is where the accounting outsourcing companies can truly help.
Given this, securing full-time or part-time CFO services could be seen as an unnecessary cost for many small and medium-sized business (SME) owners. However, hiring part-time CFO services means it is a cost-effective solution without the risk on expertise. They are experienced professionals with the latest industry knowledge but come at a fraction of cost compared to hiring on a permanent basis.
So how precisely can you improve your financial predictions with the help of an outsourced CFO?
First of all, they can make use of big data’s capabilities. Through the examination of past financial records, market patterns, and economic indicators, an external CFO can develop advanced forecasting models. These models are capable of projecting revenue, cash flow, and even possible dangers and opportunities.
Furthermore, strong financial planning and analysis (FP&A) procedures can be implemented by an external CFO. This entails knowing the narrative behind the statistics in addition to merely glancing at them. They can aid in your ability to predict future events and make appropriate plans by pointing out patterns and connections.
Outsourcing also has the important benefit of impartiality. A virtual CFO may offer a dispassionate, politically and stereotype-free assessment of your financial status. This new set of eyes is frequently able to see hazards or opportunities that others who are too familiar with the company may miss.
Outsourced CFO services are a common offering from accounting outsourcing businesses. This implies that you’re receiving access to an entire team of experts that can help many facets of your financial operations, in addition to financial competence.
The ability of an external CFO to assist in converting complicated financial data into useful insights is perhaps most significant. Better decision-making across the board is made possible by their ability to communicate projections and analysis in a way that non-financial executives can readily grasp.
Predictive analytics and financial forecasting with an external CFO are really about more than simply math. It is about getting an advantage over competitors, reducing risks, and grasping possibilities before they ever present themselves.
Businesses that adopt these cutting-edge financial strategies will be best positioned to prosper as we further enter an era of data-driven decision making. Why not investigate the ways in which using an external CFO might improve your financial predictions and steer your company towards greater success?
Please keep in mind that in the world of business, the well-prepared often reap the rewards. You are going to be ahead of the game and more than ready with an outsourced CFO using predictive analytics technologies.
Success in academics doesn’t happen by chance. It is a result of careful planning, dedication, and the implementation of effective strategies. One such strategy that has proven to be transformative for students is the setting of SMART goals. These goals, which are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, provide a clear roadmap for success. In this article, we will explore 10 SMART goals examples for students that can help transform your academic journey and ensure you reach your full potential.
SMART goals are essential not only for academic success, but also for effective course management. Platforms such as Scholarly Help can support you if the heavy daily assignments of your online classes overwhelm you. Their Online Course Help service ensures that you will complete your online courses with excellent grades, allowing you to stay on top of your responsibilities and easily achieve your academic goals.
What Are SMART Goals?
Before diving into specific examples, it’s crucial to understand what SMART goals entail. SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Each component of a SMART goal plays a vital role in ensuring that the goal is clear, realistic, and trackable. When applied effectively, SMART goals provide students with the structure and clarity needed to succeed in their academic pursuits.
Specific: The goal should be clear and specific, so the student knows exactly what they need to achieve.
Measurable: There should be criteria for measuring progress toward the completion of the goal.
Achievable: The goal should be realistic and attainable, considering the student’s resources and constraints.
Relevant: The goal should align with the student’s broader educational objectives.
Time-bound: There should be a defined timeline for achieving the goal.
Now that we have a clear understanding of what SMART goals are, let’s explore ten examples that students can adopt to enhance their academic performance.
1. Improve Grade in a Specific Subject
A common goal for students is to improve their grades in challenging subjects. Here’s how to set a SMART goal for this:
Example Goal: “I will improve my math grade from a C to a B by the end of the semester by attending extra tutoring sessions twice a week and completing additional practice problems daily.”
Specific: The goal targets improving a math grade.
Measurable: Progress can be tracked through grades on assignments and tests.
Achievable: The goal is realistic with the added tutoring and practice.
Relevant: Improving in math is crucial for overall academic success.
Time-bound: The goal is to be achieved by the end of the semester.
2. Enhance Time Management Skills
Time management is crucial for students who juggle multiple responsibilities. Setting a SMART goal can help improve this skill.
Example Goal: “I will create a weekly schedule to allocate at least 2 hours of study time for each subject every day for the next month.”
Specific: The goal is to manage study time effectively.
Measurable: The schedule allows for tracking daily study hours.
Achievable: Allocating time daily is realistic with proper planning.
Relevant: Improved time management will lead to better academic performance.
Time-bound: The goal is set for the next month.
3. Participate in Class More Frequently
Active participation in class discussions can significantly enhance understanding and retention of the material.
Example Goal: “I will raise my hand to contribute to class discussions at least three times per week for the remainder of the term.”
Specific: The goal focuses on increasing class participation.
Measurable: The frequency of participation can be tracked weekly.
Achievable: Contributing three times a week is a realistic target.
Relevant: Active participation is linked to deeper learning.
Time-bound: The goal is for the remainder of the term.
4. Develop Better Note-Taking Skills
Effective note-taking is essential for retaining information and performing well in exams.
Example Goal: “I will improve my note-taking skills by practicing the Cornell Note-Taking method in every class for the next two months.”
Specific: The goal targets enhancing note-taking skills.
Measurable: Notes can be reviewed to assess improvement.
Achievable: Implementing a new method is realistic with practice.
Relevant: Better notes lead to improved study sessions.
Time-bound: The goal is set for the next two months.
5. Increase Reading Comprehension
For students, especially in subjects like literature and history, reading comprehension is key to success.
Example Goal: “I will improve my reading comprehension by reading one chapter of a book every night and summarizing it in my own words for the next six weeks.”
Specific: The goal focuses on enhancing reading comprehension.
Measurable: Progress is tracked through nightly summaries.
Achievable: Reading one chapter a night is manageable.
Relevant: Improved comprehension is essential for academic success.
Time-bound: The goal is set for the next six weeks.
6. Build Stronger Relationships with Teachers
Building relationships with teachers can provide students with guidance, mentorship, and support.
Example Goal: “I will attend office hours once a week to ask questions and seek feedback on my assignments for the entire semester.”
Specific: The goal is to build relationships through regular office hours.
Measurable: Attendance at office hours can be tracked weekly.
Achievable: Attending once a week is a realistic goal.
Relevant: Strong relationships with teachers can enhance academic support.
Time-bound: The goal is for the entire semester.
7. Complete Assignments Ahead of Deadline
Procrastination can be a significant barrier to academic success. Setting a SMART goal to complete assignments early can help.
Example Goal: “I will complete all assignments at least two days before the deadline by working on them for 30 minutes daily until finished.”
Specific: The goal is to finish assignments early.
Measurable: Completion dates can be tracked.
Achievable: Working daily in small increments is realistic.
Relevant: Completing assignments early reduces stress and improves quality.
Time-bound: The goal is ongoing throughout the academic year.
8. Improve Public Speaking Skills
Public speaking is a vital skill for presentations and class participation.
Example Goal: “I will improve my public speaking by practicing my presentations in front of a mirror or with a friend twice a week for the next three months.”
Specific: The goal is to enhance public speaking abilities.
Measurable: Progress can be tracked by the number of practice sessions.
Achievable: Practicing twice a week is feasible.
Relevant: Public speaking is essential for academic and future career success.
Time-bound: The goal is set for the next three months.
9. Join an Extracurricular Activity
Extracurricular activities are an excellent way for students to develop new skills and broaden their experiences.
Example Goal: “I will join the school debate team and attend all weekly meetings and practices for the next academic year.”
Specific: The goal is to join and participate in the debate team.
Measurable: Participation can be tracked through attendance.
Achievable: Joining a team and attending weekly is realistic.
Relevant: Extracurricular activities are important for personal development.
Time-bound: The goal is set for the next academic year.
10. Develop a Regular Study Routine
A consistent study routine is essential for long-term academic success.
Example Goal: “I will establish a study routine by studying for at least one hour every weekday evening for the rest of the school year.”
Specific: The goal is to create and maintain a study routine.
Measurable: Study time can be tracked daily.
Achievable: One hour per evening is a realistic goal.
Relevant: Regular study habits are critical for academic achievement.
Time-bound: The goal is set for the remainder of the school year.
Setting SMART goals is a powerful tool that can significantly improve a student’s academic performance. By following these 10 examples, students can structure their goals in a way that is clear, achievable, and time-bound, leading to measurable success. SMART goals give students the structure they need to do well, whether they want to get better grades, learn how to manage their time better, or learn new skills.
Miner capitulation in Bitcoin refers to a period in which miners of cryptocurrency are failing to make ends meet because there’s been a marked decline in profitability. They then have to liquidate their reserves because fees and prices decline quickly. Whether you’re trying to work out exchange rates or simply wondering whether it’s worth hanging on to your investment, here’s the latest on why miners might be capitulating.
The Bitcoin capitulation story is big news
At the moment, many miners have been forced to liquidate their Bitcoin reserves due to declining prices and fees. The hashrate recently took a tumble to 552 EH/s. This was after it had reached its peak of 657 EH/s. What this shows is that a lot of miners are switching off their equipment. Some Crypto news outlets are noting that substantial hashrate drops like the ones experienced at the moment tend to mean that conditions are bottoming. The #1 ryptocurrency is currently (at time of writing) changing hands at BTC to USD, $59,064 after peaking at $59,322 earlier in the week, with the largest cryptocurrency plummeting below the $54,000 level.
What is miner capitulation?
One of the main functions of Bitcoin price is its profitability for miners. When prices drop, less efficient miners are then forced off networks, purely because the Bitcoins they earn are simply not worth the cost to mine anymore.
A great deal of miners keep some or all of their stock – and they’ll sell them in a bull market to gain maximum value. In a scenario involving miner capitulation, price drops, and miners are forced off the network. They then sell reserved bitcoins and this makes the price drop more.
Then in a worst-case scenario, it causes a death spiral, as there is continuous selling pressure on the price of bitcoin, combined with a cascade effect. The lower price takes our more efficient mining operations until none remain.
The death spiral didn’t happen in this case
Here, the death spiral never occurred, even with lots of examples of Bitcoin losing more than half its value in a few short weeks. The reason it hasn’t happened is easy to explain. There have been healthy mining operations, funding large sources – and this has allowed miners to get through the tougher times and continue unabated.
Longer-term contracts have also been negotiated with power companies to keep energy prices low and stable. These allow miners to keep Bitcoin in reserve, so they don’t have to go and sell in a bear market just to keep their operation going.
Miners who operate with less efficiency often go under when there are short-term price drops but it really doesn’t affect big players much.
When these less efficient miners go, there’s not as much selling pressure and hash rates stabilize. The hardware from inefficient miners went under if it was then purchased by more efficient miners, and put to good use, in order to bring hashrates back up. This provides the answer as to why historical difficulties generally trend up.
Does mining capitulation pose a threat to Bitcoin’s future?
The real answer is “No.” It does not. There have been previous halvings in the years 2012, 2016, and back in 2020. Mining costs rose then and block rewards were halved. With each halving, there were a number of miners who found the market unsustainable and at this time, there was a temporary decline in mining activity.
However, this isn’t a new phenomenon. When there were market downturns, for instance in 2018, miners shut down then, too and Bitcoin prices dropped below the threshold of profitability.
New miners are coming into the market all the time, and they’re investing in efficient and powerful mining equipment. The cycle means that there’s still a great deal of competitiveness in the industry.
From the time it was invented to the current moment, the dynamics of mining the world’s most popular cryptocurrency have always revolved around three main elements. Those are:
hardware advancements
economies of scale
environmental considerations.
Mining costs and attrition are both familiar cycles in the history of Bitcoin. They almost always occur after market downturns and capitulations. The process is a way of filtering out those miners who are less efficient, allowing more capable traders to find their feet and thrive. It’s kind of like a natural selection process.
Technological advancements mean there’s a bigger shift towards sustainability and this bolsters the security of Bitcoin and assists with its decentralization process.
Of course, these shifts offer up challenges and opportunities. Financial pressure on miners means that market conditions end up disrupted, trading volumes are influenced and sometimes they may become more volatile. When less capable miners are replaced by better counterparts, the health and stability of the market improve, and the overall ecosystem repairs itself over time.
The situation requires close monitoring, as mining dynamics can change their strategies and alter their algorithms to take charge of any opportunities that suddenly arise.
So for now at least, it looks like the storm has been weathered – though there’s no denying the waters have been choppy. Times like these will come and go and it might not be long before another situation such as this one happens again. Miners may capitulate, but markets will move on.
Artificial intelligence (AI) in Educational Technology (EdTech) can make learning more interesting, and at the same time, efficient and accessible. Scalable AI in EdTech solutions have the potential to change the whole learning process. AI is the best means for ensuring better engagement and flexibility but it is also a source of difficulties, especially in digital businesses. Let us find out the 6 major scopes and challenges associated with scalable AI EdTech solution development.
How to Scalable AI EdTech Solution? 6 Dos
Let’s find out the top 6 things you must do for scalable EdTech solution development:
Prioritize Data Privacy and Security
Make sure that you have set up strong measures for data privacy and security. This refers to the use of strong encryption, the implementation of access controls, and the constant conduction of security audits. This helps to keep the EdTech solution’s data confidential and secure from unauthorized access. You can also adhere to the existing laws in handling data while also being trusted by prioritizing data privacy and security.
Focus on Personalization
Utilize AI to develop personalized learning experiences. Customized study systems that adjust the content and speed of learning based on a student’s learning interests can be engaging. This could increase the efficiency of education. Collecting and studying the data to know the preferences of learners enables the presentation of selected materials that address various learning style needs.
Emphasize Scalability and Flexibility
Develop AI solutions that can be scaled by using cloud-based technology and modular infrastructure. This method keeps your system in keeping up with the increasing amount of data and the number of users. This, in turn, also makes the system capable of being updated and the addition of new features to be made in a more convenient way.
Invest in Teacher Training and Support
Ensure that educators receive thorough training and support to effectively use AI tools in their day-to-day activities. Teaching is most effective when educators incorporate modern technology to create a positive impact in the classroom. Since many educators have had little firsthand expertise, programs such as professional development and technical training should be installed to promote use.
Measure and Evaluate Effectiveness
Creating a comprehensive and detailed evaluation system to determine the efficiency of the AI models would ensure that they meet the standards expected. When putting the evaluation tools in place ensure that your employees can find the areas of shortcomings of AI tool implementations for further improvements.
Promote Ethical AI Practices
AI development teams and companies implementing new AI strategies must observe the highest standards of ethics. It is a priority that throughout the process of developing applications and models of artificial intelligence, there are prominent attributes such as fairness, reliability, and transparency.
How to Scalable AI EdTech Solution? 6 Don’ts
While developing scalable AI EdTech solution, you must avoid some common pitfalls:
Neglect Data Protection Regulations
Avoid ignoring compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR, COPPA, or FERPA. If these rules are not followed, serious legal problems may arise and reputation can be damaged. The way to solve this problem is to counteract this by staying updated on the relevant laws and including them in the development process of your application so that both the legal and ethical aspects are covered.
Overlook Diversity and Inclusion
Have a diversified and inclusive AI model training and make sure that the model is trained on a wide variety of data to avoid biases that can potentially harm some students. Also, you should frequently check and update algorithms for equal rights in the AI solution.
Create Rigid Systems
It is very important to avoid implementing very rigid systems that are very difficult to update or expand. Hard coding some rules or building big or monolithic programs that do not accept the integration of new features and technologies are among the practices that professionals should avoid.
Assuming Teachers Will Automatically Understand AI Tools
Do not assume that teachers automatically know how to use modern AI tools. However, without proper training, the desired outcome can’t be achieved. That is why it is fundamental that educators should be involved in the early stages of the product development cycle. A tool that doesn’t work with the teacher’s timetable and which they can stop and even customize is not a tool that people will buy into and invest time to learn
Rely Solely on Initial Deployment Success
You can’t just sit back and expect your AI deployment to be successful without the proper monitoring and evaluation. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are essential to identify areas for improvement and ensure longevity.
Ignore Ethical Implications
Avoid overlooking the possible ethical problems that AI might pose in learning. Being silent on such issues as algorithmic bias, data misuse, or unintended consequences might bring considerable harm. Ethical breaches spoil the image of your company and destroy the trust of users and stakeholders.
Conclusion
Developing scalable AI solutions for the EdTech world is an interesting and challenging journey that promises to change the way we learn and teach. Developers are presented with grand opportunities for innovation in education with AI. But at the same time, they have to overcome a number of challenges.They should also avoid common pitfalls and remember these best practices so that we are able to use AI in a way that can work positively for both students and educators.
